Many in the local area have been affected by Unauthorised Encampments over the last few years. I am aware of the fear, upset and misery that these encampments have caused many of you, while our communities have been blighted by problems of noise and littering.
That is why I have been consistently lobbying the Home Secretary to toughen the laws around this matter. In 2019, I proudly stood on a manifesto, and voted in favour of a Queen’s Speech, that included a commitment to strengthen police powers to tackle these unauthorised encampments. I even brought the Home Secretary to see one area that had numerous encampments, to talk to residents about the problems caused.
Yesterday, the Government released its response to the consultation that has taken place, setting out the action that the Government will take. The Government will introduce a new criminal offence and extend existing powers through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. The new offence will compromise of the following conditions:
- a person aged 18 or over resides, or intends to reside, on land without consent of the occupier of the land;
- they have, or intend to have, at least one vehicle with them on the land; they have caused or are likely to cause significant damage, disruption or distress;
- and that they, without reasonable excuse, fail to leave the land following a request to do so or re-enter the land with an intention to have at least one vehicle with them within 12 months of a request to leave.
Reasonable suspicion that a person has committed this offence confers power on a constable to seize their vehicle for up to three months or until criminal proceedings are concluded. The maximum penalty will be three months’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding £2,500, or both.
You can read the full consultation here: https://bit.ly/3kZ7fax.